Life inside the shearing shed: Chantel McAlister captures the 'truth' of the wool industry

What does the Australian wool industry look like? "Dust and everyday sheep", thinks former master wool classer turned photographer Chantel McAlister, and she has the photos to prove it.

Since 2015, McAlister has photographed modern, on-farm wool production processes across Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania and Western Australia.

McAlister's mission is to "tell the truth about wool" through her documentary photos.

She hopes to change what she says are public misconceptions, such as that shearing is cruel to lambs, or that shearers have drug problems, and restore a sense of pride in the wool industry.

The drought's devastating effects on the wool industry in Queensland and NSW have also motivated her to give the wool industry "a little pick-me-up".

She said that while the media did a great job at showing the heartbreaking side of drought, she wanted to show the other side — that "drought may not be easily beaten but it can be survived".

McAlister's photos and stories of wool growers, sheep, workers and the woolsheds across Australia are regularly shared on her Instagram account, without any "sugar-coating, Photoshopping or porky pies".

Young women shearers

Faced with an ageing workforce, woolgrowers like NK Shearing, Benalla, are offering traineeships to train multi-skilled workers like this young woman, looking to make a lifelong career in the woolshed.

Counting sheep?

If you cannot get a wool underlay to nap on, just nap under the wool table.

While Ms McAlister's Truth About Wool campaign is her own, she is sponsored by Australian Wool Innovation (a not-for-profit company owned by more than 24,000 Australian woolgrowers that invests in research, development, innovation and marketing) and Bisley Workwear. She also receives donations from supporters, including woolgrowers, through a GoFundMe page.

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